Theme: All out of Good Days Krooked Kings

Sitting at the Kitchen Table, Michi's face wore a heavy, despondent expression as he calculated the time he was assigned for Community Service..

"Three hours a day... That equals to twenty five days.. five weeks full of just.. Community Service."

The numbers loomed like a sentence. He couldn't help but release a sigh, placing his pencil on the table, filled with resignation.

Nemui poured a pot of coffee, recognizing the impending need to fuel himself for the day ahead of him. After taking a sip, and setting down the coffee pot, he turned his attention to his son.

"That's nothing compared to what a normal punishment would've been, son. You might not fully grasp how lenient they were with you, but even I was taken aback by their decision."

Michi shook his head and raked his hands through his hair, disrupted by Eriko's attempts to get his attention, the early morning meeting had disrupted her schedule, leaving her hungry, Michi regarded his father.

"I know dad... I'm already regretting everything."

Nemui's eyebrows turned to a stern expression as he met eyes with his son.

"Regret, my boy, is a lesson you are yet to fully comprehend. While the heroes have assigned their own punishment, you'll soon learn of your home-based grounding."

Michi froze, struck by the realization that his father's temper had been dormant for the entire duration of this problem. As he heard Nemui's voice escalate, he hesitantly met his father's gaze, as Michi, and Eriko have gone silent.

"When I'm home, we will discuss the specifics of your punishment."

Nemui flung the house door open, and left with a resounding slam, leaving behind a stern directive.

"AND WATCH YOUR SISTER!"

Michi took a deep breath as he calmed himself, redirecting his attention to Eriko, who was struggling with her breakfast cereal. As he sighed and sat down, he noticed his phone buzzing,

"Three Unread Messages from, Dad."

"No friends over!"

"If I catch wind of, or hear a single word about anyone visiting, I'll double your community service!"

"Love you, Son."

Michi let out a sigh.. His mind boggled as he looked down at the table, remembering a conversation he had with his mother.

Three years ago

Michi was eleven years old, with Eriko as a newborn on his lap, he was bottle-feeding her. His eyes were weary and dull from the constant crying. Naomi helped Michi coddle his sister better.

"You've got to remember to coddle the neck sweetie, or she won't be able to eat."

Michi moved his arm to hold his sister's neck, holding her more effectively

"it hurts holding her like this for so long."

Naomi chuckled as she looked at her little boy

"How do you think dad and I feel all the time? Now we've got two little gremlins to look after."

Michi looked down at himself then looked up.

"I... I didn't mean for Shizu to get hurt."

Naomi comforted her son as she kissed him on the top of his head.

"I know, hun."

Michi began to tear up again... through sobs he asked again

"W-why was dad.. so angry?!"

Naomi looked down at her son, then at the door, she let out a sigh as she got onto her knees, in front of Michi

"My little boy, I need you to understand, that Daddy had it rough when he was your age, so when it comes to... more difficult conversations, he struggles to articulate what he means."

Michi tilted his head

"Articoolat?"

Naomi smiled softly

"Repeat after me, Ar-tik-keu-late"

"Are-Ar-tik-keu-late... What does, articulate, mean?"

Naomi patted her son on the head, moving his head off of his face

"It means to express yourself, or your feelings."

Michi nodded as his child mind thought, "Dad struggles to talk about himself? Or is it feelings? I mean, he does get mad a lot."

Naomi held onto both her kids,

"Your father is a stern man, but he loves you both SO much in his own way. Don't forget that. Ever."

.

.

.

Michi carefully cleaned his little sister's face, a warm smile gracing his features as he helped her.

"How was the apple and your cereal?!"

Eriko beamed with happiness, her eyes sparkling

"It was so sweet!"

Michi continued his chores, washing the dishes while allowing Eriko to enjoy her morning cartoons. Suddenly, a knock echoed through the house, causing him to tense up. He quickly grabbed the television remote, silencing the cartoons.

"HEeeyy!"

Michi hushed his little sister, and held his breath, hoping the visitor would leave without further commotion.

"A VILLAIN WOULDN'T KNOCK ON THE DOOR, DUMBASS!"

Sighing in both relief and frustration, Michi recognized the commanding voice as that of his cousin. Senshi. He decided to turn the cartoons back on for Eriko's sake, and headed to the front door, briefly glancing through the peephole to confirm Senshi's identity. He slowly opened the door.

"Uh.. Hey Shen... I'm.. Not allowed to have visitors."

Senshi firmly grabbed onto the door's opening and let himself inside, disregarding Michi's feeble protests. Senshi had the same short, black hair and intense red eyes as his father, Karasu Itami. Despite his young age, Senshi already stood at 5'6" with noticeable muscle definition. He shook his head disapprovingly at Michi.

"Really? You'll follow your dad's command but not something as simple as the law?!"

Michi stood there in shock, realizing that Senshi had somehow learned about the events of today's meeting, further highlighting that there was no confidentiality involved.

"It was a mistake."

Senshi shoved Michi, forcing him to step back.

"I know you're capable of being a real piece of work, but really? This shit? Working with-"

Michi urgently hushed Senshi.

"Please, not in front of-"

Senshi couldn't help but chuckle.

"Like hell you're gonna shush me, you villain conspirator!"

Michi had a dull look on his face as he heard his own cousin, his best friend call him a "conspirator"

"It isn't anything like that Senshi it was just-"

"WHAT?! IT WAS JUST WATCH MICHI? PRACTICE?"

Eriko's eyes began to water as she saw her cousin Senshi, yell at her brother.

"Stop being mean!"

Eriko approached her cousin, throwing her fists against his knee, her angry protests were nothing but in vein, until she was brought into her room, where she fell asleep fast for her nap.

Michi sat across from his cousin, as he took a deep breath. Senshi had rage- no, disgust in his expression. Michi spoke up.

"So what? Do you want me to plead? "No, no Senshi, it's all wrong!"... I made a mistake Shen."

Senshi stood up pointing at Michi

"A MISTAKE... a mistake, is forgetting to do the laundry, forgetting to do your homework, this... what you did, is nothing short of a crime."

Michi listen as he nodded.

"It is."

Senshi sat down with a disgusted look on his face.

"Yet, you sit here, after working for the Kazuki clan, acting as if you are deserving of a free sentence-"

Suddenly, a loud booming voice entered the house, none other than Shizu entered with a determined look on his face

"Michi! Senshi! What the hell is going on?!"

Behind Shizu was Fugu, shaking her head as her brother stormed in. Senshi looked at Michi with a grin.

"Well Michi? What is going on? Wanna tell them or should I?"

Michi began to sweat, his face pale as his eyes shifted between Senshi, and Shizu

"Please, Senshi, don't."

Hearing this plea, Senshi turned to Shizu and Fugu,

"Michi was caught working for the Kazuki Clan."

Michi stood up and shouted, anger in his voice

"I was not caught! I went to my FATHER! GODDAMMIT SENSHI! I WASN'T WORKING FOR THEM!"

Senshi stood up, getting into Michi's face, shoving him

"THEN WHAT WAS IT? HUH? A PLAY DATE?!"

Shizu had a shocked expression on his face, Fugu shook her head as she listened. Michi looked at Shizu and his head dropped to the floor, unable to speak, his voice dropped.

"What was it Michi?"

Michi looked at Shizu as he spoke.. Michi struggled to breathe...

"It... it was like.. work.. but... I went to a coliseum, and fought... other people.. for their amusement."

Shizu turned his head, looking at Senshi for confirmation, as he slowly nodded.

"I... I was out training... out in public when a man stopped me, inviting me to his.. "gym". So I went. But is was nothing like he explained it. I was put against another man, and we fought until one of us wasn't responsive."

Senshi frowned.

"Don't act like a victim. You kept showing up. FOR WEEKS."

Michi had a disgusted look on his face, as tears began to fall down his face.

"W-why... why are you doing this.. Senshi..."

Senshi shook his head,

"It's Itami to you."

Michi looked up at his cousin, as he looked around the room, he saw that Fugu had already left, and that Shizu stook there shocked, tears falling down his face as well. As he slowly turned around and began to leave the Shinomori residence.

"P-please.. It's not..."

Senshi pressed his hand into Michi's chest as he pushed him away from chasing after Shizu. Shizu turned around slightly.

"I.. I need time to.. process this."

As Shizu walked out of the Shinomori residence, Senshi began to walk out of the house, before turning his head

"Before you even try, don't try contacting my mom or dad. They don't want to hear from you. Neither does Hana."

Senshi slammed the door, shaking the house, Michi stood in the house alone, feeling the cold nip in the air as tears fell onto the ground. He began to panic as he fell to the ground.

"it.. it was just a mistake, I can be forgiven... R-right...?"

Michi sputtered and cried on the floor as he muttered these words,

"F-forgiveness... does not mean... R-redemption."

1 1/2 year later.

Michi sat in his room, his hoodie hiding his face as he rapidly typed on his computer, he was on numerous blogs talking about current heroes quirks, and match ups against villains. Michi stood up as he grabbed his bottle of water. He took a sip as he let out a sigh. The past year, Michi's hair has become more unkept. His face more exhausted, Michi let out a sigh as he tossed his bottled water to his bed. A little girl in a kindergartener's hat peeked her head into the room

"Miiichiiii, are you being a shut in again?"

Michi looked at the door, his tired expression became annoyance as he looked at Eriko.

"I'm just spending my summer vacation by myself. Is that so bad?"

Eriko sat down next to her brother's computer, her smile was bright

"Why not be out with your friends?! Go to the beach! The beach!"

Michi looked at Eriko, as he wrapped his hair into a bun

"I just don't feel like it."

Eriko looked at her brother again, with optimism

"What about high school! Have you applied to any yet?!"

Michi looked at his sign up sheet, it was blank, erased words could be shown spelling out, "UA"

"No. Not yet."

Eriko pouted as she took off her hat, leaving it on the floor as she walked around her brothers room before leaving. Michi let out a sigh as he looked at the sign up sheet. He thought for a second what it would be like even trying to get into UA. Would teachers disqualify him? Would he even have a chance? What if his classmates were Shizu, and Senshi? He hasn't heard from Senshi since that day. Though, Shizu has tried once or twice to call out to Michi. Michi let out a sigh, before ripping up the High school sign up.